California Voltin'

Time was when an automaker produced a "California Special" edition of any model it probably had more horsepower or special graphics. Something to make it sexier.

Not anymore. Chevrolet Volts headed for CA will now get a new Low Emissions Package. Sounds like a good plan, but why?

With the package's added equipment the Volt qualifies as a vehicle with this government-issued label: California Enhanced, Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. You can call it enhAT-PZEV for short.

The point of the exercise to make Volts eligible for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or car-pool) lane use with just one person onboard...just like the arch-rival, all-electric Nissan Leaf.

Normally you need at least two up to use that lane. Get caught driving solo in a non-qualified vehicle and you are out more than $300. Buying the Volt doesn't guarantee the coveted HOV sticker, but it qualifies the owners to apply for one of the 40,000 available HOV stickers that are issued on a first-ask, first-given basis.

There was a time when hybrids also qualified for HOV lane use and having the sticker bumped up the value of the car by some $2000.

Being an enhAT-PZEV (try to say that without spitting...some prefer the more pronounceable EAT-PZEV for that very reason) vehicle, the California Volt also qualifies the owner for a $1500 rebate from the state for driving a clean vehicle.

What's the secret? The California Volts have an added secondary air-injection pump for the catalytic converter, which further reduces pollutants.

More good news. To qualify the California Volt for HOV use Chevy has to up the warranty to 10-year, 150,000-mile.

So maybe things haven't really changed all that much if one considers (with all due respects to Volt owners) that nerd is the new sexy.